St. Lawrence County’s unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percentage point, but the county lost 900 jobs in December compared to the same month last year, according preliminary data from the state Department of Labor.

That rate was 6.1 percent last month, that’s down from 6.2 percent in December 2015.

There were 2,800 people receiving benefits in December 2016 and 2,900 the same month last year.

Despite fewer people receiving unemployment benefits, the county lost 900 jobs, with the number at 43,500 last month and 44,400 in December 2015, DOL said.

To our east in Franklin County, the unemployment rate went down to 5.8 percent last month from 6.1 percent in December 2015. There were 1,100 people on the dole in November and 1,200 the same month last year. They lost 300 jobs over the same time period, with the total at 18,700 last month and 19,000 in December 2015, according to the DOL.

To our west in Jefferson County, the unemployment rate rose to 7 percent in December 2016 from 6.8 percent in the same month last year. The number of people receiving benefits rose to 3,200 in December 2016 and from 3,100 in December 2015. They lost between 500 and 600 jobs, with roughly 42,300 last month and about 42,900 in December 2015, DOL said.